Michigan State at Northwestern College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/17/2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Allstate Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Michigan State Spartans head to Allstate Arena to take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, February 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan State as 8.5 point favorites.

Michigan State comes into this game with an overall record of 25-3. They currently have a point differential of 18.3 as they are averaging 83.3 points per game while giving up 65.0 per contest. Northwestern has an overall record of 15-12. They are averaging 69.9 points per game and surrendering 65.9, good for a point differential of 4.0.

Valuable Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 14-12 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-12 against the over/under this year

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 10-14 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-15 against the over/under this year

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/08/17 G Kyle Ahrens Foot is out indefinitely

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season
02/16/18 G Bryant McIntosh Shoulder injured last game, is "?" Saturday vs Michigan State

Player Spotlight

Miles Bridges averages 17.3 points per contest while playing 30.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is 89%. Nick Ward averages 13.1 points per contest in 19.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 0.5 assists per game and 7.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 69% for the season while his free throw percentage is 59%.

Player Spotlight

Scottie Lindsey scores 14.6 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.7 rebounds per contest and has 1.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Bryant McIntosh averages 12.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.5 rebounds per game and has 5.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State averages 83.3 points per contest this year, which is 24th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 18.3 and their shooting percentage is 52% as a unit, which has them ranked 2nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 42%, which is good for 3rd in Division 1. They average 41.4 boards per contest and 20.3 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 1st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 124th with 13.7 per game. The Spartans allow 65.0 points per contest, which is 23rd in the country. They also surrender a 36% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 83rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.5 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they allow 12.4 assists per game which puts them in 96th place in college basketball. They force 10.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern is 273rd in the country with 69.9 points per contest this season. They are 287th in the nation in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 4.0. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 190th in Division 1. They are 261st in the country in rebounding with 33.9 boards per contest and 150th in assists per game with 14.1. The Wildcats are 286th in turnovers per contest with 11.9. The Wildcats give up 65.9 points per game, which ranks them 34th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 169th and 192nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 192nd with 13.6 dimes allowed per game and 59th with 32.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 162nd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Spartans are 5th in the nation in offensive rating with 119.3, and their defensive rating of 93.1 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 200th in the country with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 59% is 4th. As a team they are 4th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 232nd in Division 1. Michigan State is 116th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 42%, which is 1st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Northwestern is 249th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 158th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 86th in the nation in defensive rating with 98.6, and their offensive rating of 104.7 is ranked 172nd. They are 324th in D-1 in pace with 66.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 256th. As a unit they are 244th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 115th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Michigan State/Northwestern college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Michigan State -8.5

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